Intimate apparel goes a long way when it comes to boosting self-confidence. Feeling beautiful in feminine clothing is one of the advantages of investing in luxurious lingerie.
The current lingerie industry offers many designs for you to choose from. That means you get the opportunity to express your personal style in many ways. Among which the two most popular intimate garments are chemise and babydoll. So let’s get on with the topic at hand. What is a Chemise - Chemise vs. Babydoll.
You might think that both are similar pieces of lingerie. Not true though. They have a few subtle differences.
So to get to know them, it’s important to understand the design and details of each apparel.
What is a Chemise - Chemise vs. Babydoll
What is a Chemise? Everything You Need to Know About It
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By origin, a chemise was a basic smock or shirt worn below the clothing. The garment was crafted to not allow body oils and sweat from staining. Then spreading to your outer garments!
Women from the medieval era also experienced the joy of wearing a chemise. Only then it was known as a Roman tunica. In fact, even men wore a chemise in the European countries. Back in the Middle Ages. They put it on with trousers. And then covered it up with robes or doublets! As for women, they wore the apparel as a shirt underneath the gown.
But today only women wear the chemise. And as a lingerie ensemble, nothing else!
You can wear a chemise under your formal outfits. Or as a part of your sleepwear! The fabrics used for construction are cotton, satin, and silk.
Needless to say, a chemise is quite a fashionable piece of lingerie. Like the Avidlove Women Lingerie Lace V Neck Sleepwear Strap Chemise. After all, it does fall in the category of sexy lingerie.
1 Best Chemise: Avidlove Women Lingerie Lace V Neck Sleepwear Strap Chemise
The Avidlove Lace V-Neck Chemise has a polyester construction. With a little of acrylic! It is also equipped with stretchy floral lace and soft mesh. None of these fabrics rub against, scratch, or irritate the skin in any way.
However, you should know that designer chemise is nothing but a fad of late. Back in the days, chemises were stitched at home. By the woman who wanted to wear them herself. But gradually, this began to change. Around the time when store-bought clothing started to gain some momentum! This is when readymade chemises became a part of a woman’s wardrobe.
In the world that we live in today, chemises are more than only readymade. They’re also designer wear. But with a slight difference, isn’t it?
A chemise is also known as a slip. In terms of looks, it’s a flimsy or light piece of lingerie available at many branded and retail stores. This should answer the most commonly asked question. Is a chemise the same as a slip?
The materials, designs, styles, and colors vary. Individual designers and brands manufacture some amazing chemises. That are simply exclusive and can make you feel incredibly special. At this point, it’s hard not to think of those love scenes from movies in which the actress is flaunting the most seductive-looking chemise.
There are many international brands that produce such garments. And these creations are available almost everywhere. So as a buyer, you have a whole ocean of options to pick from. With a broad price range too!
In terms of material as well, the choices are plenty. There’s mesh, lace, satin, silk, and velvet. The classic design consists of crushed velvet. With a desirable flair and soft texture! Satin and silk chemises are sensual and soft. And these are often accompanied by sequins, embroidery, mesh, or lace detailing. The different styles are coupled with different colors too.
A chemise is one of the very few garments that have managed to remain popular. After as many as 500 hundred years since its entry into the clothing market! The apparel has definitely evolved from being an object of comfort to a lingerie ensemble. So women can feel beautiful and sexy.
The combination of fiction and fact is what makes a chemise look even more desirable to the female demographic. Luxury and beauty go hand in hand. And as long as that’s true, the chemise will never go out of fashion. For all you know, men might also start wearing it someday. It’s highly improbable, but surely not impossible.
Construction of the Chemise
Now that you know all about what is a chemise, it’s time to move on.
What is a Babydoll?
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Now, what’s a babydoll? It’s a loose negligee or nightgown that women wear as nightwear. But why the name BABYDOLL? The term became popular for a reason actually. Carroll Baker, the actress playing a 19 years old nymphet in the movie Babydoll released in 1956. This movie was the reason behind the popularity of the term and garment.
Babydolls are equipped with formed cups and an attached loose skirt. The length of the skirt is usually between your belly button and upper thigh. This piece of lingerie is also designed with trimmings of lace. Or ruffles, bows, ribbons, appliques, and marabou fur. Along with spaghetti straps!
As for the materials used, there’s silk, chiffon, and nylon. Basically, translucent or sheer fabrics are the norm. Babydolls are highly eroticized adult apparel items. The adult version is not the same as the infant version, of course. (Brief History of Sexy Lingerie)
Some styles expose your legs. Then there are those that either expose or emphasize the breasts too. The gown is often sold with matching panties or thongs.
Any classic babydoll length is short enough to make the underwear visible. There are quite attractive bodysuit options too. Much like the Garmol Women Lingerie One Piece Fishnet Teddy Lace Cups Bodysuit Mesh Babydoll.
2 Best Babydoll: Garmol Women Lingerie One Piece Fishnet Teddy Lace Cups Bodysuit Mesh Babydoll
Designed with spandex and polyester, this Garmol teddy lingerie is quite an attractive number. It has a lace trimming and front panel. The lace fabric is what gives the bodysuit that sexy appeal.
When you look closely, you’ll see that the babydoll features a comfort-fitting waistband. Along with a satin material bow-tie at the back! Then there’s the hook/eye closure and adjustable straps. So every part of the lingerie screams both style and comfort.
The best of all is the cheeky design of the bottom. It is a babydoll after all, isn’t it?
But there are styles without the typical sex appeal as well. These are known as shortie nightgowns.
The options on the current retail lingerie market are aplenty. The modern designs vary significantly from the ones of the 60s and 70s. As for the classic negligees of the 50s, they are now vintage items.
Chemise vs. Babydoll: Product Comparison
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Don’t be embarrassed to admit that you don’t know the difference between a chemise and babydoll.
But I’m not discussing the topic at a basic level here. I wish to get into the more specific and intricate details.
So you can pick one of the two based on your personal style and preferences. Either the Avidlove Women Lingerie Lace V Neck Sleepwear Strap Chemise. Or the Garmol Women Lingerie One Piece Fishnet Teddy Lace Cups Bodysuit Mesh Babydoll.
Avidlove Women Lingerie Lace V Neck Sleepwear Strap Chemise | Garmol Women Lingerie One Piece Fishnet Teddy Lace Cups Bodysuit Mesh Babydoll | |
---|---|---|
Type | Sleepwear chemise | Bodysuit babydoll |
Material | Polyester and acrylic | Polyester and spandex |
Straps | Thin, adjustable | Thin, adjustable |
Cups | Sheer lace (no lining, pad, or underwire) | Sheer lace (no lining, pad, or underwire) |
Back closure | None | Hook/eye (2) |
Size | S-XXL | S-XXXL |
Fit | Loose (around the hips) | Body-hugging |
Neckline | Scalloped plunging-V | Scalloped plunging-V |
Embellishments | Asymmetrical hem Satin bow | Waistband Satin back bow-tie |
Photo credit: sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com
The difference between Chemise vs. Babydoll
History
Chemise has been around for longer than babydoll. The former used to be a unisex piece of garment. Not lingerie! The original design of chemise, are you already know, was created to be worn below a gown or robe. To prevent the possibility of chafing! And to also protect the outerwear from showing signs of sweat and stains. This was during the traditional Middle Ages.
But the brand new 20th century saw the transformation of this particular apparel. The chemise transformed into a combination of panty, bra, girdle, and full slip. Then again in the 1940s, the original chemise re-emerged. Along with the creation of styles constructed with new materials!
Now you should know that babydolls don’t go way back. They gained popularity only in the 1950s. But back then, these were designed with bloomer-type elasticized bottoms. That was soon replaced by briefs. And today, these briefs have taken the form of thongs or panties. In fact, some sets are not even sold with a bottom.
Fit
Both a chemise and babydoll are short in length. They fall right above your knee. But there is a slight difference to note here. Chemises reach your lower or mid-thigh region. As for babydolls, they are relatively shorter. This explains why the latter includes matching panties too.
Here’s another prominent difference you need to know. A chemise offers a snug fit, which tends to skim your body.
As for a babydoll, it is somewhat looser in terms of fit. Especially around your hips!
It’s not uncommon to come across a babydoll with a built-in bra. And some of these bras are underwired as well. To deliver support and accentuate your bust! Now, a chemise doesn’t do that.
There are a few babydolls that provide support in the form of seamed cups and side boning. On top of that, the silicone installed in them is anti-slip in nature. So that everything inside stays put.
But both the styles are sleeveless and available in different fabrics. Including silk, lace, satin, chiffon, nylon, cotton blends, and cotton. And additionally, both chemise and babydoll feature beautiful feminine detailing. Like bows, ribbons, and ruffles.
To sum it up, a babydoll is flowier around the hips. While a chemise fits very snugly around the thighs and hips!
The End of “What is a Chemise - Chemise vs. Babydoll”
So now you know what is a chemise and babydoll. And you also understand the minor differences between the two lingerie styles. So it’s safe to say that you’ll make a better decision. The two options I have provided you with are as follows:
- Avidlove Women Lingerie Lace V Neck Sleepwear Strap Chemise
- Garmol Women Lingerie One Piece Fishnet Teddy Lace Cups Bodysuit Mesh Babydoll
The first is a chemise and the second a babydoll. Both products are manufactured by giant brands. They are of the highest quality. So there’s no chance of facing any disappointments. Just make sure you get the right size. That’s all.
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